Refillable electric fuse



March 17, 1931. J. H. HICKEY 1,796,710

REFILLABLE' ELECTRIC FUSE Filed July 7. 1928 INVEN 701?.

JOHN H. HICKEY.

Patented Mar. 17, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOHN H. HICKEY,

OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO HICKEY FUSE &

MANUFACTURING COMFANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA REFILLAIBLE ELECTRIC FUSE Application filed July 7, 1928. Serial No. 291,040.

My invention relates to improvements in refillable electric fuses wherein a fusible element is mounted between terminal members detachably secured upon the ends of a casing,

i and provided with detachable means arranged to clamp the terminals in position and to seal the terminals against the ends of the casing.

The primar object of my present invention is to provlde an improved refillable fuse.

Another object is to provide an improved fuse which will facilitate the removal and replacing of terminals to replace a blown fusible element.

A further object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement which will hold the terminals in rigid position and effectually seal the ends of the casing.

Another object is to provide an improved construction wherein a sealing plate is rigid- 1y clamped to a terminal to insure a gas-tight closure. I

A further object is to provide an improved construction wherein the clamping means is 2 automatically actuated to clamp a sealing plate to the adjacent terminal when a collar is applied to secure the plate and terminal upon the casing of a fuse, and in which said collar cannot be applied without moving the 3 clamping means to clamping position.

A still further object is to provide an improved and simplified construction wherein the operative parts are readily accessible and are shielded from exposure to gases and metal within the fuse when a fusible element is blown.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the specification and drawings and in whichi Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved fuse construction;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the left-hand end of the fuse, as shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a view of the sealing plate with the clamping latches moved to open position;

Fig. 4 is a view of the sealing plate showing the manner in which the latches are moved to slightly engage the terminal when the securing collar is applied, the collar being shown in section; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a terminal, with the sealing'plate andlatches shown in section in clamping relation thereto.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate in general a casing threaded at the ends thereof to receive collars 2 and 3 detachably securing terminal members 4 and 6 thereon, said terminals having inwardly extending lugs 4 and 6' respectively, arranged to receive a fusible element 7 secured therebetween by suitable securing members 8. The terminals t and 6 are also provided with outwardly extending blade portions arranged to engage a fuse block, not shown, in the ordinary manner.

In the preferred construction and arrange ment, the terminal 4 is provided with an annular flange, shouldered as at 9 to seat upon one end of the casing 1, the position of the terminal being defined by a lug 11 engaging a suitable recess formed in the end of the casing. The collar 2, threaded onto the casing binds the flange tightly against the end of the casing and forms a gas tight seal around the end of the terminal flange.

The opposite terminal 6 is arranged to be slidably movable through the casing so that said terminal and the fusible element may be inserted together from one end of the casing. The end of the casing 1 adjacent the terminal 6 is closed by means of a sealing plate 12 slotted as at 15 to slidably engage the blade portion of the terminal 6 and having an annular shoulder 13 arranged to seat against the end of the casing 1. A lug 14 formed upon the shoulder 13 engages a suitable notch formed in the end of the casing to aline the plate 12 and the terminal 6 relative to the opposite terminal and to prevent any turning of the terminal within the casing.

A pair of latching members 16 are pivotally mounted upon the outer face of the plate 12, said members being arcuate in shape and being arranged to be swung into engagement with notches 17 formed in the sides of the 100 6 the preferred embodiment of blade portion of the terminal 6 adjacent the plate 12. The inner surfaces of the members 16 are beveled as at 18 to engage a corresponding beveled surface formed upon the outer sides of the notches 17 whereby the members 16, when moved into said notches, operate to clamp the plate 12 against the annular body portion of the terminal 6. The outer edges of. the members 16 are also beveled as at 19 and are arranged to be engaged by a beveled surface 21 formed upon the collar 3. The members 16 are arranged to be swung clear of the slot- 15 to admit the blade portion of the terminal 6. When the collar is fitted over the plate 12 to engage the end of the casing 1, the members must be swung inwardly to partially engage the notches 17 and as the collar is tightened to seat against the surface of the plate 12, the members 16 are forced inwardly into clamping relation with the terminal 6. i

In operation, the fuse, constructed as above described, is mounted in a fuse block and operates in the ordinary manner. When a fuse is blown, the collars 2 and 3 are removed from the casing and a new fusible element 7 inserted, the terminal 6 and fuse 7 being inserted through one end of the casing and the terminal 4 secured and seated by means of the collar 2. The plate 12 is then applied over the blade portion of the terminal 6 and seated against the end of the casing 1, and the collar 3 applied. Before the collar 3 can be moved into engagement with the threaded endof the casing 1, the latching members must neces-,

sarily be moved inwardly to match with or be positioned inside of the edge of the plate 12, and when thus moved, are caused to slightly engage the notches 17, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings} As the collar is advanced onto the end of the casing, the beveled surface 21 bearing against the beveled outer surfaces 19 of the members 16 force said members 16 inwardly so that when the collar 3 has been fully advanced to secure the plate 12 in sealing relation to the casing, the members 16 will be forced inwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 to clamp the plate 12 tightly against the terminal 6, thereby insuring a rigid and gas tight relation. The depth of the notches 17 is such that a slight clearance is allowed, thereby insuring that the members 16 can be moved inwardly sufficiently to permit the collar to be tightly seated against the surface of the plate 12. The collar 3 prevents leak- 'age around the edge of the terminal 6, and the clamping relation in which the plate 12 is held against the terminal 6 prevents any leakage therebetween.

While I have illustrated and described only my improved fuse, the device is subject to modification 1n numerous'ways without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ,is-

1. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged to engage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between the terminal members; a collar detachably securing one of the terminal members upon one end of the casing; an annular plate detachably engaging'the opposite terminal and arranged to close the opposite end of the casing; latching means mounted upon the plate and arranged to clamp the plate against the terminal; and'a collar detachably securing the plate upon the casing.

2. A refillable fuse comprising .a casing; terminal members arranged to engage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between the terminal members; a collar detachably securing one of the terminal members upon one end of the casing; an annular plate detachably engaging the opposite terminal and arranged to close the opposite end of the casing; a collar detachably securing the plate upon the casing and'latching means mounted upon the plate and arranged to be actuated by the adjacent collar when tightened against the plate to clamp the plate against the terminal.

3. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged to engage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between the terminal members; a collar detachably securing one of the terminal members upon one end of the casing; an annular plate detachably engagingthe opposite terminal and arranged to close the opposite end of the casing; a collar detachably securing the plate upon the casing; and latching means pivotally mounted upon the outer face of the plate and arranged to clamp the plate against the terminal.

4. A refillable'fusecomprising a casing, terminal members arranged to engage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between the terminal members; a collar detachably securing one of the terminal members upon one end of the casing; an annular plate detachably engaging the opposite terminal and arranged to close the opposite end of the casing; a collar detachably securing the plate'upon the'casing; and latching means pivotally mounted upon the outer face of the plate-and arranged to be actuated by the tightening of the collar against the plate to clamp the plate against the terminal.

5. A refillable fuse comprising a casing, terminal members arranged to engage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between the terminal members; a col lar detachably securing one of the terminal members upon one end' of the casing; an annular plate detachably engaging the opposite terminal and arranged to close the opposite end of the casing; a collar detachably securing the plate upon the casing; and a pair of latches pivotally mounted upon the plate and arranged to engage notches formed in the terminal member, said latches being arranged to be swung inwardly to automatically clamp the plate against the terminal when the collar is tightened against the plate.

6. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged to engage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between the terminal members; a collar detachably securing one of the terminal members upon one end of the casing; an annular plate detachably engaging the opposite terminal and arranged to close the opposite end of the housing; a collar detachably securing the plate upon the casing; and a pair of latches pivotally mounted upon the plate and provided with beveled edges arranged to engage notches formed in the terminal member to clamp the plate against the terminal member.

7. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged to engage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between the terminal members; a collar detachably securing one of the terminal members upon one end of the casing; a plate engaging the opposite terminal and arranged to close the opposite end of the housing; a collar detachably securing the plate upon the housing; and a pair of latches pivotally mounted upon the plate and provided with beveled inner edges arranged to engage notches formed in the terminal member to clamp the plate against the member, and also provided with beveled outer edges arranged to be engaged by the cap for moving the latches into clamping position.

8. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged to engage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between the terminal members; a collar detachably securing one of the terminal members upon one end of the casing; a plate engaging the opposite terminal and arranged to close the opposite end of the housing; a collar detachably securing the plate upon the housing; and a pair of latches pivotally mounted upon the plate and provided with beveled inner edges arranged to engage notches formed in the terminal member to clamp the plate against the terminal member, and also provided with beveled outer edges arranged to be engaged by the cap for automatically moving the latches into clamping position when the cap is tightened against the plate.

9. A refillable fuse comprising a casing; terminal members arranged to engage the ends of the casing; a fusible element connected between the terminal members, a collar detachably securing one of the terminal members upon one end of the housing; a plate engaging the opposite terminal member and arranged to close the opposite end of the housing; a collar detachably securing the plate upon the casing, said collar being provided with an inwardly beveled annular flange arranged to seat upon the edge of the plate; and a pair of latches pivotally mounted upon the plate and provided with beveled inner edges arranged to engage notches formed in the terminal member to clamp the plate against the terminal member, and also provided with beveled outer edges arranged to be engaged by the beveled flange of the collar, said latches being automatically moved into clamping position when the collar is tightened against the plate.

10. In a refillable fuse, the combination with a casing and a terminal member fitted within the end of said casing, of a plate detachably engaging the terminal member and arranged to seat upon an end of the casing; and latching means mounted upon the outer surface of the plate for detachably clamping the plate upon the terminal.

11. In a refillable fuse, the combination with a casing and a terminal member fitted within the end of the casing, of a plate detachably engaging the terminal member and arranged to seat upon an end of the casing; and a pair of latching members pivotally mounted upon the plate and arranged to clamp the plate in engagement with the terminal member.

12. In a refillable fuse, the combination with a casing and a terminal member fitted within the end of the casing, of a plate detachably engaging the terminal member and arranged to seat upon an end of the casing; and a pair of latching members pivotally mounted upon the plate and provided with beveled edges arranged to engage notches formed in the terminal member for detachably clamping the plate against the terminal member.

13. In a refillable fuse, the combination with a casing and a terminal member fitted within the end of the casing, of a plate detachably engaging the terminal member and arranged to seat upon an end of the casing; a collar engaging the end of the casing and detachably securing the plate thereagainst; and latching means automatically actuated by the turning of the collar onto the casing for clamping the plate against the terminal member.

14;. In a refillable fuse, the combination with a casing and a terminal member fitted within an end of the casing, of a plate detachably engaging the terminal member and arranged to seat upon an end of the casing; a collar threaded onto the casing and having a beveled flanged edge arranged to seat upon the plate and seal said plate across the end of the casing; and latching members pivotally mounted upon the plate and having beveled inner edges arranged to engage ntches formed in the terminal member to clamp the plate against said member and also having beveled outer edges arranged to be en- 5 gaged by the beveled edge of the collar for automatically moving the latching members to clamping position When the collar is seated against the plate.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto set my sig nature.

JOHN H. HICKEY. 

